Liberia: Judge Feika Rules in Tweah Acquittal Case Today

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a Liberian Observer report from Monrovia, says Criminal Court “C” Judge Ousman Feika is expected to rule on July 21 on whether alleged jury misconduct affected the May 8 verdict in a major corruption and economic sabotage case involving former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. Tweah and former Financial Intelligence Agency Comptroller D. Moses P. Cooper were acquitted of charges tied to the alleged theft of more than US$6.2 million and L$1 billion, including economic sabotage, theft, money laundering and conspiracy.

The post-verdict inquiry follows a Supreme Court decision allowing Judge Feika to continue proceedings in open court. Associate Justice Yussif D. Kaba declined a defense request for a writ of prohibition, after Tweah’s lawyers argued that the trial court no longer had authority once the jury was discharged. The investigation is based partly on affidavits from three jurors alleging breaches of sequestration rules, including phone access, social activities during trial and outside communications.

The case is significant because the same jury also convicted former National Security Advisor Jefferson Karmoh and former Solicitor General Nyanti Tuan on selected counts, while former FIA Director General Stanley Ford received a mixed verdict. If misconduct is found, Tweah’s acquittal is expected to remain protected by Liberia’s constitutional bar on double jeopardy, but convicted defendants may use the finding to seek a new trial or challenge their convictions on appeal.

The Observer reports that the court may review evidence such as CCTV, phone records and testimony from officers who supervised jurors. More broadly, the ruling could clarify how far Liberian courts may go in policing jury conduct after verdicts, while prompting reforms to jury management in high-profile cases.